DATE:
November 1, 2022
TO:
Adam Politzer, Interim City Manager
FROM:
Mohamed Alaoui, Public Works Director
SUBJECT:
Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Emeryville Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Professional Services Agreement with PlaceWorks In An Amount Not To Exceed $80,124.00 For A Comprehensive Street Tree Audit And Roadmap To Future Expansion Of Emeryville’s Street Tree Inventory. CEQA Determination: Exempt Under Section 15061(b)(3) Recommendation
Staff recommend that the City Council of the City of Emeryville authorize the City Manager to enter into a Professional Services Agreement with PlaceWorks for a comprehensive street tree audit and roadmap to future expansion of Emeryville’s street tree inventory, including reports detailing best locations, tree species, and management practices to increase canopy cover throughout the city.
Background
At the January 18, 2022 meeting of the Emeryville City Council, in item 12.5, staff was directed to bring a plan to Council for an audit of the City’s street trees and a report on potential sites for additional or improved tree canopy.
Staff requested proposals from four firms with experience in urban greening, and recommends the proposal submitted by PlaceWorks dated October 14, 2022, for the services described in Exhibit A, at a cost not to exceed $80,124.00. The proposed scope of work includes elements requested by the City Council at a Study Session held on September 6, 2022.
Discussion
One of the Guiding Principles in the City’s General Plan is “Enhanced and connected open space network and green streets,” which includes a value of “many more trees along streets.” This value is repeated throughout the General Plan. The benefits of urban greening through tree canopy expansion are many, and include improved air and water quality, stormwater management, carbon sequestration, and aesthetic/quality of life improvements. An increase in street trees is also associated with economic benefits such as lower crime rates and lower energy use and costs.
The project will have the following outcomes and deliverables:
GIS inventory and mapping of existing street trees and tree wells GIS inventory and mapping of opportunity sites for street trees, including both empty tree wells and potential additional locations including along the railroad tracks where feasible Suitability for planting
Above-ground limitations and known below-ground limitations Sidewalk width and width of planting strip if present
Driveways and other impediments to tree planting
Identification and ranking of tree planting opportunity areas Cost estimating tool/template for use in potential projects Tree type and soil recommendations, with input from the City Arborist Mapping of opportunity areas in a searchable web application, GIS shapefile, and a printed format.
The project is anticipated to be completed as proposed in seven to nine months from project initiation.
The creation of this report will clearly inform future efforts to select, plant, and maintain street trees, and will be a key element for securing funding for the expansion of tree canopy throughout the city.
Fiscal Impact
This project is not in the current Capital Improvement Program, but it is related in outcome to an existing project, FM-13 (CIP #18254016), “City Hall Bay-Friendly Landscaping.” Staff propose reallocating $80,124 from the $120,284.75 available in the existing project, into a new project number for the purpose of carrying out this proposed study. The existing funds are currently available in CIP 18254016 Fund 650, Account 80050.
Staff Communication with the Public
The project was proposed at a public meeting of the City Council on January 18, 2022 and discussed at a City Council Study Session on September 6, 2022.
CEQA DETERMINATION
This project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under the “common sense exemption” at Section 15061(b)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the proposal may have a significant [negative] effect on the environment.
Conclusion
This audit and report on the trees lining Emeryville’s streets will enable the City to seek opportunities for expanding the number of street trees, their canopy coverage, and determine their health. These data will provide key information to pursue funding opportunities for increased urban greening, leading to environmental and quality of life benefits for the community.
PREPARED BY: Nancy Humphrey, Environmental Programs Supervisor Approved and Forwarded to the
City Council of the City of Emeryville:
Adam Politzer, Interim City Manager
Attachments
Draft Resolution
Exhibit A – Proposal/Scope of Work
Exhibit B - Contract
Emeryville General Plan, Section 1.1, item 3.
Emeryville General Plan, Section 4-1, “Green streets,” Section 5-2, “Better connections;” Policies PP-P-5, UD-P-43, and UD-P-46; and Implementation Action CSN-A-1 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0169204612000977 https://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/53420
Tree Canopy Study and Report Professional Services Agreement City Council Meeting | November 1, 2022
City of Emeryville
CALIFORNIA
MEMORANDUM